September is approaching and we can already talk about the program of the 33rd International Berries Seminar, to be held on September 11 at the Royal Tulip City Center Hotel in Tangier, which will bring together a large part of the global blueberry and berry industry.
"Everything that has been scheduled for the September meeting in Morocco is highly relevant for an industry that continues to grow, which is incorporating the best of new genetics and which is using the most modern technology available for the proper development of its crops."
Technical tour
"The meeting will be simultaneously translated into Spanish, French, Arabic and English and will be attended by national and international specialists in the industry today, some of whom will also participate in a technical tour to learn about the reality of Moroccan agriculture, genetics, cultivation systems, the quality and training of human resources, and how local producers are facing their challenges."
Photo: Blueberries Consulting. Production fields in Morocco.
"The International Seminar in Tangiers has generated a lot of expectation and many companies, producers and local and foreign investors are expected to attend, given that Moroccan fruit has a great reputation for its high quality and has become a favorite among consumers."
Local and global reality of the industry
This reality of the Moroccan industry will be addressed at the start of the round of presentations with an analysis by Amine Bennani, President of the Moroccan Association of Berry Producers (AMPFR), who will share an "Update on the berry market in Morocco: production, marketing and genetics." This will be followed by a detailed "Analysis of the global market and competitors for Moroccan blueberries," by Thomas Grandperrin, EMEA manager of the consultancy firm Agronometrics.
Strategies and management
The Tangiers meeting will also address the wide range of new management strategies, which must take into account the multiple factors that can appear as challenges, not only with regard to commercial competition or the fruit's quality, but also to professional planning, considering variables such as the weather, the geographical areas, connectivity, access to markets, human resources, genetic quality, water availability, synchronisation with the best sales periods, or technical capabilities.
In this regard, Juan Pablo Bentín, production manager of the Peruvian company Family Farms Peru, will give a presentation on "Blueberry production in Peru: the importance of new genetics;" a high-quality presentation based on the experience gained with his own project to produce MBO varieties in the inert dunes of the California desert, in the area of Pisco, to the south of Lima.
Jorge Esquivel, director of Blueberries Consulting and international consultant, will also give a presentation on "Modern blueberry production: strategies and management," in which the specialist will focus on the importance of professional management of agricultural projects and specific planning for each project. His arguments are based on a detailed diagnosis that will reveal the challenges to be resolved and the comparative advantages that will help in achieving all goals, both agronomic and commercial.
Technologies and genetics
In the field of technology and the good use of it, there will be presentations on "Design of irrigation programs to optimize resources, photosynthesis and biomass development in berries," given by Miguel Ángel Cuevas, executive for Spain and Latin America of Gremon Systems, and "The impact of technology in the blueberry process: innovation, quality and efficiency," by a representative of the Italian company Unitec.
Genetic innovations will be addressed in the talk "Breeding programs for new berry cultivars in warm growing areas," by the renowned specialist and international geneticist Bruno Mezzetti, an academic from the Polytechnic University of Marche (UNIVPM).
New management and care
In the field of new soilless agronomic management systems, María del Carmen Salas, agronomist, researcher and PhD lecturer at the University of Almeria, will give a talk on "Characterization of substrates and recommendations for their use in berries," and Dr Anna Konieczny, expert in biostimulation and bioprotection, will give a talk on "Biostimulation strategies and the use of beneficial microorganisms for berries."
Also in the field of management and care, the renowned professor of the Sabanci University of Istanbul Ismail Cakmak will give a presentation on "Nutritional management to mitigate drought, heat and radiation stress in berries," a very relevant topic for Moroccan producers and the whole world, not only because of the threat of occasional phenomena - such as El Niño - but also because climate change is bound to be permanent and we must look into management methods to cope with it.
Panel discussion
One of the highlights of the program will be the panel discussion moderated by AMPFR president Amine Bennani, which will include an "Analysis of the global berry industry: Challenges and Competitiveness Strategies," in which specialists Amouri Mohamed, president of the Moroccan Berry Federation, Interproberries; Kamal Ouhmad, manager of Driscoll's in Morocco; Harold Huot, CEO of Surberry; Philip Symons, EMEA director of North Bay Produce, and Tadeu Alves, CEO of Green Factor, from Portugal, will participate.
Want to be part of the annual meeting of Mediterranean Berry Producers?
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www.blueberriesconsulting.com